Aortic Valve Level

A systolic flow disturbance due to mitral regurgitation may be detected in the left atrium.

Shunt flow across a submembranous VSD may be parallel to the ultrasound beam when the sample volume is positioned on the right side of the interventricular septum in a short axis plane just below the aortic valve.

Mitral Valve Level

A diastolic flow disturbance due to mitral stenosis may be detected beyond the mitral leaflets.

A diastolic flow disturbance due to aortic insufficiency may be detected in the left ventricular outflow tract.

A diastolic flow disturbance created by mitral stenosis may be detected in the left ventricular inflow tract.

This view is particularly useful for recording atrial and/or ventricular septal defect flow in children.  In adults, however, septal shunt flows may be difficult to record from this approach.  The subcostal view may also be used to detect flow disturbances in the right atrium, right ventricular inflow tract, left atrium and left ventricular inflow tract.